Prince William Feeds A Rhino, Helps Endangered Species Through Tusk Trust [PHOTOS]

Prince William visited Port Lympne Wild Animal Park on June 6th in Port Lympne, England to meet staff and rhinos involved in a translocation project.

The Aspinall Foundation along with the Tusk Trust, of which William is the royal patron, and the George Adamson Trust got together to stage a rare translocation of three captive born black rhino to Mkomazi National Park in Tanzania Those involved hope that by reintroducing the endangered species to the wild will help with breeding programs.

“Along with elephants, they’re two of the most heavily poached animals currently in the world,” William told the BBC‘s Kate Silverton. “If we don’t do something about them, it’s going to be a tragic loss for everyone.”

in order to rejuvenate numbers of the black rhino in the area. The three animals are being airlifted in a DHL Boeing 757 from Manston Airport in Kent direct to Kilimanjaro Int Airport in Tanzania.

The three black rhino have been donated by Damian Aspinall, Chairman of The Aspinall Foundation, from their breeding group at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent. William, a dedicated campaigner against poaching, visited the rhinos in Kent ahead of their translocation.

“There’s a massive need for education on poaching… rhinos are very vulnerable animals and I think a lot of people don’t realise what happens and how rhino horn, or ivory, ends up in a particular area,” he said. ”I think [we need to] make people aware of how delicate and fragile these animals are, and how much damage we are doing to them and to the wildlife and natural ecosystem around them just by our neglect and ignorance.”

William and his brother, Harry consider Africa their second home. During his gap year, William spent time at the Lewa Downs reserve in Kenya and since then has been passionate about protecting African wildlife. He and Catherine attended the UK premiere of Disney’s African Cats in aid of the Tusk Trust.